Antonov hits a hat-trick as Bracknell Bees silence the Steeldogs

Luaks Smital opened the scoring for Bracknell Bees on both nights at the weekend. (Image: Ian Coughlan)

Vanya Antonov hit a first senior hat-trick as Bracknell rounded off a weekend of mixed emotions with a 7-3 success away at Sheffield Steeldogs.

Captain Matt Foord also struck twice in south Yorkshire, while Chris Wiggins and player-coach Lukas Smital were also on target as the side racked up a first league win of the season.

It was a fine start from the Bees, who had opened up a 2-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes through goals from Smital and teenager Antonov.

Sheffield, however, quickly hit back through Lubomir Korhorn before Greg Wood and Lee Haywood combined to set up Steve Duncombe for the equaliser.

It remained that way until midway through the second session, where Wiggins fired home on the powerplay to restore the away side's advantage.

Foord then netted on 40:24 to further extend the lead before bagging Bracknell's fifth two minutes later. Scott Spearing picked up both assists.

The Steeldogs hit back through Kohorn, but the effort was purely academic for a side who went on to conceded two more goals as hot-shot Antonov wrapped up the victory and his hat-trick.

Winning provided the perfect tonic for a Bees side whose disappointing start to the campaign had hit a new low on Saturday.

Looking to avenge the 6-1 loss suffered to Telford Tigers on the opening weekend of the season, the Shropshire outfit put their opponents to the sword once again, thrashing the hosts 11-3 at the Hive.

The Tigers had put five goals on the board during the opening session, with Scott McKenzie, Peter Szabo (2), Jo Miller, and Max Birbraer all lighting the lamp before Smital pulled a goal back for the shell-shocked hosts.

James Galazzi further reduced the deficit in the second period, only for Birbraer and McKenzie to add to their individual totals as Telford took their scoring to seven.

Szabo completed his hat-trick in the third as the Tigers continued to produce a clinical performance in front of goal, with former Bee Dan Davies tapping into an empty net to make it 9-2.

Tempers then flared when Owen Bennett, having taking grievance with Galazzi after Blahoslav Novak went down in centre ice, found himself exchanging blows with Wiggins, with the pair receiving a match and game misconduct penalties resepctively.

Once order was restored, Galazzi netted his second on the night during a five-minute Bracknell penalty, but any joy was shortlived, as Telford brought up double figures through Sam Zajac before Rick Plant, celebrating his 500th EPL appearance, completed the scoring.

Bees will be looking to build on last night's success when they travel to MK Lightning on Saturday (6pm) before Basingstoke Bison visit the Hive on Sunday (6pm).